Eligible Maryland State Retirees Encouraged to Take Action to Enroll in Medicare Part D Ahead of December 31 Deadline

ANNAPOLIS, MD - The Employee Benefits Division of the Maryland Department of Budget and Management is reminding Medicare-eligible Maryland State retirees and their Medicare-eligible dependents to enroll in a Medicare Part D plan before December 31. The current State-provided prescription drug plan for Medicare-eligible retirees will end at the end of December.  

Retirees who are currently enrolled in the State’s prescription drug plan must enroll in a Medicare Part D plan to have prescription drug coverage on January 1, 2025.

To assist Maryland state retirees and their eligible dependents with the transition, the State of Maryland contracted with Via Benefits to offer counseling and enrollment assistance. Retirees must enroll in an individual Part D prescription drug plan through Via Benefits in order to have access to the financial assistance programs from the State, if eligible.

After contacting Via Benefits, licensed benefits advisors will assist retirees in reviewing plan options and enrolling in new coverage. More information on contacting Via Benefits, setting up an appointment, and additional details on the State’s transition to Medicare Part D, including the Life-Sustaining Prescription Drug Assistance Program, can be found here.

No other State-sponsored health care coverage is affected by this transition, but the State will not automatically enroll retirees in an individual plan. State of Maryland Medicare-eligible retirees and their Medicare-eligible dependents must take action now and enroll in a Medicare Part D plan to ensure prescription drug coverage on January 1, 2025.